Manufacture of hooped boxes



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. H. HIGHAM. Y MANUPAGTURB 0F HOOPBD BOXES. No. 449,413. i Patented Mar. 31,1891.

jbwmdffffgim (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. H. BIG-HAM. i MANUFAGTURE OF HOOPED BOXES.

No. 449,413. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. H. HIGHAM. vMMUMCTum: 0F HooPBD BOXES.

No. 449,413. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

'UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

` HOWARD H. HIGIIAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURE OF HOOPED BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,413, dated March 31, 1891. Application filed April 24:, 1890. Serial No. 349,370. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD I-I. HIGHAM, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in the Manufacture of Hooped Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of improvements in the manufacture of that class of boxes in which bands or hoops of iron are passed around the boxes at each end in order to strengthen the same; and my invention relates especially to the manufacture of that class of boxes which are used by bottlers, and which are subjected to constant handling and rough usage.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the nailing of the bands or hoops to the boxes, and to prevent any subsequent l0osening or buckling of the band or hoop, such as might be caused by the shrinking or warping of the box. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in wl1ich- Figure l is a plan view, partly in section, of a machine employed by me in carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in different positions. Fig. 3 is a View partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section; and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detached views, on a larger scale, of parts of the machine.

In the ordinary method of making boxes of the class to which my invention relates the end portions of the boxes are first rabbeted on all four sides for the reception of the band or hoop, and the latter is then applied and nailed on by hand, the hoop beingl tirstnailed along one side of the box, the latter being then turned and the hoop bent so as to extend along another side of the box, the hoop being then nailed along this side, and so on until the hoop has been applied and secured to all four sides of the box. As will be evident, this is a slow and expensive operation, as the nails must be driven singly and it is necessary to punch the hoop before the nail can be driven through the saine. Irrespective of the expense of this method of hooping, however, the result is unsatisfactory, as it is impossible to insure a snug t of the hoop, especially at the corners and between the nails, so that there are always more or less pronounced projections of the hoops at the sides and corners of the boxes, such projections being particularly noticeable upon the slightest shrinkage of the wood. These projecting portions of the hoops are a constant source of annoyance, as the hoops of the ydifferent boxes catch upon each other as the boxes are being packed into or taken from lthe delivery-wagons, so that the hoops are being continually torn off and constant repairs to the boxes are necessary. These objections I overcome Vby applying the hoop t-o the box and securing it by the nails while it is under such excessive strain that it will be caused to bind snugly upon or embed itself in the sides of the box and indent or round the corners of the saine, and hence will not in the after use of the box ever become so loose as to project beyondthe sides or corners of the box. 'lhe hoop is held under tension by one or more retaining-nails, and the final nailing of the hoop can, owing to the excessive tension upon the same, loe effected without the necessity of first punching the hoop for the reception of the nails. In fact, the extreme tension upon the hoop so facilitates the nailing of the same that the operation can be effected by means of the ordinary box-nailing machines, whereby all of the nails along one side of the box are simultaneously driven.

The drawings illustrate a simple form of machine which I have devised for applying the hoops to the boxes under tension, as before set forth.

The machine comprises a frame-work A, so constructed as to receive and support the box x, to which the hoop cc is to be applied, the frame also having guides a fora bar B, which has at one end. clamping-jaws h b', forming a vise, the under side of the bar being provided with a rack cl, engaging with a pinion f on a shaft D, which is free to turn in suitable bearings on the main frame, and has at one end a driving-pulley g and friction-clutch h of any desired construction, said clutch lheing under control of a lever z', which is acted upon by a spring 7c, tending to hold the clutch,

IDO

out of gear. The shaft D is also, by preference, provided with a hand-Wheel F, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The jaw b of the vise on the slide B is movable, being hung to the end of a screw-stein m, which is adapted to a threaded opening in a standard m on the slide and has at its outer end an arm n, notched at the lower end for engagement with a lug or projection p on the frame A, this lug or projection being so located that as the slide B reaches the limit of its inward movement the arm n of the screw- .stem fm will be struck by the projection and moved to the position shown in Figs. l and 4, the effect of this movement being to partially withdraw the screw-stem from the threaded opening in the standard m', ehe arm n, however, on the first outward movement of the slide B, being so acted upon by the projection p as to cause a partial turning of the screwstem m, which has the effect of forcing the loose jaw b of the vise toward the fixed jaw 'h of the same.

Hung to the main frame of the machine is a swinging frame J, which carries a pair of forked fingers s, preferably elastic, these iingers, when the frame J is moved forward, serving to support the hoop while it is being applied to the box.

In applying the hoop sufficient of the same is drawn forward through the jaws b b to pass around the box, as shown in Fig. l,the frame J being then brought forward so that its lingers s will support the band. One end of the band is then attached to the box, preferably by bending it and driving it into the side of the box, as shown in Fig. l, and the lever z' is'then moved so as to throw the clutch hinto action, thereby rotating the shaft D and causing outward movement of the slide B. As soon as the latter commences to move outward the jaws of the vise are closed upon the hoop, and the latter is then subjected to tension sufficient to draw it tightly around the box, and cause it to fit snugly to the top,bot tom, and sides of the same, and to indent or compress the corners, as shown in Fig. 2, the friction-clutch ,whereby power isapplied to the shaft D, slipping as soon as the hoop has been drawn tight and is subjected to the proper tension. It is advisable in some cases to grease the cornersof the box, so as to facilitate the slipping of the hoop around the same as it is drawn tight. The hoop is then secured in position on the box, preferably by inserting a nail, as shown at fy in Fig. 2, and thehoop is cut close to this nail while still under tension, the cutting in such case being readily effected by a chisel-edged portion of the nail-driving hammer. The friction-clutch being released, the slide B is retracted by turning the hand-wheel F, and as it reaches the end of its inward movement the jaws b b of the vise are loosened, as before set forth, so as vto permit the hoop to be drawn through the jaws preparatory to the repetition of the operation, the boxes, as fast as they are hooped, being taken to the nailing-machine, where the nailing of the hoops is completed.

It should be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the specific means employed for imparting tension to the hoop, as these means, while preferred, may be modified in many ways without departing from the essential features of my invention.

Having lthus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-entl. The mode herein described of effecting the hoopin g of boxes having metal hoops, said mode consisting in first applying the hoop to the box while drawn so tightly that it remains permanently under tension and then nailing the hoop, whereby the nails, owing to the tension upon the hoop, can be driven either singly or in series without any previous puncturng of the hoop, substantiallyas specified.

2. The combination of a box-supporting device, a movable barl carrying a vise, means for reciprocating said bar, a friction-clutch for operating the same, and a holder for maintaining the hoop in position on the box before it is drawn tight, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the box-support, a movable'bar carrying a vise, a screw-stem acting on the movable jaw of the vise and having an arm, and a projection acting on said arm to effect the automatic opening and closing of the vise as the bar carrying the same is moved to and fro, substantially as specified.

4t. lThe combination of a box holder or support, a movable bar earring a vise, means for operating said bar, and a frame swinging beyond the box and engaging with a hoop which surrounds said box, whereby said hoop is supported in position upon the box before being drawn tight, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWARD H. HIGHAM.

Witnesses:

EUGENE ELTERIOH, HARRY SMITH.

IOE 

